The outspoken FOX News host took to the airwaves this week to blast the former Friends star for comments she made about single motherhood.

Jen, who plays a hopeful mom-to-be seeking a sperm donor in the new movie The Switch, recently told reporters, “Women are realizing it more and more knowing that they don’t have to settle with a man just to have that child. Times have changed and that is also what is amazing is that we do have so many options these days, as opposed to our parents’ days when you can’t have children because you have waited too long.”

Bill O’Reilly’s response?

“She’s throwing a message out to 12-year-olds and 13-year-olds that, ‘Hey you don’t need a guy. You don’t need a dad.’ That is destructive to our society.”

He has at least one supporter in his corner. His FOX colleague Gretchen Carlson also weighed in, saying that Jen is “glamorizing single parenthood.”

RECENT POSTS:

30 Responses to Is Jennifer Aniston “glamorizing” single motherhood?

Alliesays:

August 12, 2010 at 8:37 am

Actually, I think single parents are some of the strongest people out there. I’m married with one kid and still have a very difficult time keeping up with everything. I really have to hand it to those single parents who are able to do everything on their own.

And what’s with Bill O’Reilly’s comment?? Where did he get the 12 and 13 year olds not needing a father thing?? And you know, a dad doesn’t have to be the man who married your mother and got her pregnant. A “Dad” can be anyone who can be there for a kid, be their roll model, give advice and spend quality time with them.

Why SHOULDN’T someone be able to have a kid just because they don’t find the “right person”? Especially if they really feel it in their heart that they want to nurture another life.

Mayasays:

August 12, 2010 at 10:49 am

Is it 1990? Didn’t we already have this debate with the whole Dan Quayle/Murphy Brown debate?

Klayresays:

August 12, 2010 at 12:38 pm

@Maya–I was going to say the same thing!

Kimsays:

August 12, 2010 at 1:54 pm

I think it’s wrong that a single woman/man can think that they deserve a child more than that child deserves a father/mother. A “dad” is much more than a roll model. There needs to be permanent commitment–something fostered by biology and marriage.

Susansays:

August 12, 2010 at 2:10 pm

I agree though that we shouldn’t tell young adults that you don’t need a man to get pregnant and raise a child. My cousin did it at 20, and even though she loves her son dearly and wouldn’t trade it for the world, she would much rather have waited and prepared herself for life before bringing another one into the world.
Kids these days get into drinking, drugs, and sex WAY earlier than I did.

Virginiasays:

August 12, 2010 at 2:11 pm

I think that this is amazing, she has had some bad relationships in the past that have gone pretty much no where and she deserves to have a baby if she wants one. There are thousands of kids out there that are waiting to be adopted b/c some “Fathers and Mothers” don’t have what it takes to be a parent. Why should anyone criticize her for wanting to be a single parent? My dad was a single parent of 6 and we all turned out great, who is to say that you need the other parent anyway?

O’Reilly and Carlson just need to keep their bad comments to themselves and let people live in peace without putting them down for wanting to raise a child.

Kimsays:

August 12, 2010 at 2:20 pm

You deserve a baby if you want one?? Desire has little to do with the ability to give a child the best chance it deserves. Children raised by single parents are at a greater risk of going to jail, dropping out of high school, not completing college, and experiencing poverty. Mothers and fathers do very different things for their children.

Jamie Leesays:

August 12, 2010 at 2:48 pm

As a single mom for the last 3 years of my six year-old daughter’s life, I support moms who are single because things didn’t work out with their partner AND moms who are single by choice. There is more than one definition of “family.” It’s unfair (and, to be frank, a bit ignorant) to make sweeping statements of any kind when it comes to what’s best for kids. Each child, each parent, and each family is unique and shouldn’t be judged against what’s “normal.” As far as I’m concerned, there’s no standardized data that can convince me that any one factor is an overwhelming contributor to a child’s success or failure in life. We are not numbers, we are human beings. If a child is loved and supported – whether by a mom and a dad, a mom, a dad, two moms, or two dads – that child has, in my estimation, a pretty damn good chance at a good life.

She is a role model for 30 and 40-somethings who are committed to being parents even if they are not romantically committed to another adult (male or female), not 12 and 13 year olds. First of all, a teen could not afford to pay for the doctors and fertility treatments and implantations and all, nor would anyone stand for that. You have to be established in your career to be able to support a kid and take that on consciously. I could never imagine doing it alone but I don’t imagine Jennifer’s child will have only one adult figure in it’s life. There are a lot of amazing single parents out there, many of whom did not intend to be that way. Powerfully choosing single parenthood means there is a good chance you have thought though the implications and are ready to take it on…unlike the majority who end up there involuntarily whether through divorce or losing your spouse to an accident or disease.

I enjoyed reading each and every comment to this post. I am a recently divorced single mom to a 20month old. I am only 28yrs old. The idea of having more children is always in the back of my mind and I like to know that I don’t have to find Mr.Right to have another child. Life doesn’t always go as planned. I thought I had Mr.Right the first time around. I have a huge responsibility as a single mom, but I know who my relible and supportive family memebers and friends are. The saying it takes a village to raise a family is SOOO true. Whether there is Mom and Dad in one house hold or not my child(ren) will be loved and cared for.

I don’t think 12 year olds are thinking these things.. I think this guy is wacked out of his mind. If I hadn’t read this article I wouldn’t have even noticed. Sorry guy didn’t make a dent in my mind. I think what she is saying is women not children (obviously) should feel that they can have a child and not look so hard for mr. Right. There’s basically no clock kicking these days. If you’d like to have a baby then go for it, I don’t think she’s warping child minds! This is a comment for single women wanting a child. Like an empowering speach. Personally though my experience not having one of my parents growing up was the worst thing imagionable and thinking in my mind my daughter is lucky to have both parents alive and in her life 24/7. There of course is a lot to think about when having a child by yourself but, that’s for each women to decide! I’m not saying women wouldn’t do a fantastic job because I believe every women has a motherly instincts and can do a wonderful job raising a child with or without a man! This man shouldn’t be so critical, I think highly of women who do it alone! Either way I think he should just stfu!

I have lots of friends with partners with age gaps up to 12 years and its fine and doesn’t bother me. Um 26 year age gap are you kdding me?? Normally age gaps don’t bother me but when I hear that I want to vomit!!!! My dad is a 29 year age gap from me and seriously he could be her father!! I’d like to know how old her father is!

It is great that women do have the option to have children by themselves, rather than stay in abusive relationships or marry a moron just for his sperm. Not all Dads are good Dads. I do think it is great for a child to have two parents and I’m glad my son has a loving and present father. But I was raised by a single Mum (after my Dad had an affair and walked out on her) who made the brave choice to give me a little brother by sperm donor and raise us in a nurturing and creative home all by herself, and I’ve grown up pretty good, if I do say so myself, and my brother and I are very close.

peopleRidiotssays:

August 12, 2010 at 6:22 pm

What all of you liberals that don’t believe in the sanctity of marriage don’t get is that young girls emulate what they see. They think it’s “fun” and “easy” to have a baby and think they can do it on their own. What the hell is wrong with having a mom and, oh my God, a FATHER??? in a child’s life? You act as if all dads are bad. They are not “partners,” they are FATHERS AND/OR HUSBANDS. What gives a woman the right to go out and seek a male just to fulfill her selfish desire to have a child on her own? Women like that should just adopt or get a puppy if they want someone to raise and love. The message that kids get nowadays is that you don’t have to be married to have kids because you can do it on “your own” courtesy of the tax payers. Society is disgustingly teaching kids and young adults to hate marriage and to even attack couples that have kids together that aren’t married, because they want to push the whole feminazi empowerment crap onto them. Kids need two parents. It doesn’t matter if dad is the biological dad or not-they need a strong male role model in their lives so they don’t grow up committing crimes against all the law-abiding citizens out there, or grow up mooching off the system. Kim, I totally agree with what you said. Virginia, you and all the other liberals out there need to let those that are more traditional live their lives and quit attacking them for not following your biased agenda.

You DON’T need a significant other to have a kid!! I am married with a son and one on the way.
@KIM…I would like to see statistics of your claims that people with only one parent turn out to be juvenile delinquents.
What about those children out there who have two parents that neglect them, abuse them and leave them(sometimes, as seen in our youth foster care)? Just bc they have two parents doesn’t mean they are going to be upstanding citizens. It is ALL in how a child is raised. Not how many people are raising them. Just bc a single woman or man is raising a child alone, does not mean they will be neglected.
Love is love. No matter if you have one parent or two givig it to you.

Phoebesays:

August 12, 2010 at 9:53 pm

We should take what she is saying within the context she intended it to be. She is saying that in the olden times women’s only quest is to marry a man and raise a family with him. For this reason some women who waited for mr. right for far too long missed the bus. But now we have options, which is actually true. It’s reality and we don’t live in a perfect world. Some things don’t go the way we planned it but we got to live with it. At the same time, statistics show that a two parent heterosexual relationship has children with higher IQ, less prone to behavioral problems, and when they followed the children into adults are more well adjusted adults. Well at least that’s what studies say but not to generalize other forms of family or NOT to say children coming from these families will automatically be delinquents, there’s a difference. At the end, it’s all statistics, societal norms, standards and expectations are modified over time. Live your life well and make decisions that will ultimately make you happy, that’s what matters.

Kaylasays:

August 13, 2010 at 12:41 am

I give MAJOR kudos to any and all who are single parents, because life happens, and everyone has to make the best decisions they can. At the same time, I agree with Kim- there’s a reason its so hard to be a single parent; it’s takes two people to create a baby, and, in an ideal world, those two people would take on the role of loving and raising that child in a proper fashion. I think it’s important not to push aside the idea of marriage, just to show support to other family situations.

juliussays:

August 13, 2010 at 6:46 am

I think we should strive to offer children a mother AND a father. A father is not just a role model. Kids feel a sense of ownership over who their dad is, and I believe kids that have a dad feel more secure about their relationship than kids that merely get exposed to a male role model.

And Virginia, just because someone does not agree with you, they still have a right to give their opinion. We should be able to have a dialogue about these things. That is how people come to understand one another. I am tired of people wanting to silence dissenting opinions.

Kellysays:

August 13, 2010 at 8:43 am

@Kim, are you suggesting say a child in a family where the parents are constantly fighting and possible abuse is occuring is better off than a kid with a loving, devotional single parent who gives the child all that it deserves, just because that child just has two parents?

My father left my mum when she told him she was pregnant. Since she became a single mother should she have aborted me because she would become a single parent and i obviously would have grown up in poverty, dropped out of high school, and gone to jail… Sorry hun i didn’t do ANY of those things.

I’m a mother now, at 22 years of age, and sure, my daughter is lucky to have both parents, but a child of a single parent is no lest loved that a child with two parents (whether they be straight or gay)

PS: Screw O’Reilly, just because he had kids at 48 and 53 years of age doesn’t mean women can wait that long to have them. He didn’t meet his wife until he was 42… Jen is 41… Some people do get sick of waiting for the right “One”. Who is he to judge?

Good on Jen, she has the right to choose to be a single parent just as a man should have the right to be a single father by choice.

Kellysays:

August 13, 2010 at 9:11 am

@peopleRidiots… the only people who have looked down on my partner and i for having a child out of wedlock is the overtly religious.

How “traditional” and “Feminazi” of them… Seriously wake up. It’s 2010 not 1960

Aislynnsays:

August 13, 2010 at 10:26 am

I don’t think it’s as drastic as Bill does, and I know several single mothers that I respect deeply and think are doing a great job on their own, but I don’t think it’s the healthiest choice.

hugs4Jacksays:

August 13, 2010 at 11:20 am

peopleRidiots- you’re absolutely right, people do emulate what they see. I wonder if any 12y/o girls will be emulating Bristol Palin?

Denisesays:

August 13, 2010 at 3:41 pm

@PeopleRidiots – Wow! I hardly know where to begin with you.

1. “You act as if all dads are bad.” Um, no. I don’t think most choice moms and/or Jennifer Aniston is saying that at all. It is just that if you reach a certain age as a woman and have not had a biological child, then your chances become slim to nil. Pure scientific fact, my dear. Yes, yes, there are donor eggs and adoption but those routes are very expensive, not easy and let us be real – MOST people want a biological child. And besides, even if you use donor egg and/or adopt the child will still not have a father which of course, you would be totally against that anyway.

2. “What gives the woman a right to go out and seek a male just to fulfill her selfish desire to have a child on her own?” Okay, first off – not every woman does this. Many of us have known donors and/or use artificial insemination. I agree that it is wrong to “trick” a male into becoming a father. It should be a known and mutually agreed upon thing. And as for the “selfish” desire to have a child – this argument could be used for married couples as well. Why is it any less “selfish” of them to bring a child into the world who clearly did not ask to be born? Hm….????

3. “Women like that should just adopt or get a puppy.”
Wow. Where do I begin with the ignorance of this statement? Clearly, you have no idea how challenging, time consuming and emotionally draining it is to adopt. Not to mention expensive. Not to mention that it is pretty hard to adopt as a single parent. As for getting a puppy – would you tell any of your married friends to just go get a puppy???? Again, why are they any MORE deserving of a child???

4. “Kids need two parents. It doesn’t matter if dad is the biological dad or not. They need a strong male role model in their lives so they don’t grow up committing crimes against all the law abiding citizens out there, or grow up mooching off the system.”

First of all, examine the first statement. Who told you that kids need two parents? Society? Have you ever challenged society before? And will just any 2 parents do – what about 2 crack addicted whores? Would that be good?

To be honest, I grew up with both mom and dad till I was about 12 or so and then they got divorced. After that, I only saw my dad every other weekend or so and it was stressful. So, I didn’t really have a “strong” male role model who was consistently around and guess what – * GASP!!!!!!!!! * I have 2 degrees, including a Master’s Degree, I own my own car, pay rent, pay all my bills, I am a law abiding citizen and I have a FULL TIME JOB. I don’t mooch off of anyone thank you very much!!!!!

Your complete and utter ignorance is both sad, shocking and a bit funny at the same time. I hope you can get not only a book education but a real life education. Go out and talk to actual, real life single parents. You may be surprised and you may actually learn a thing or two.

Choice moms are only guilty of love. We are guilty of wanting to love and raise and nurture another human being. If that is a crime – lock me up.

vanessasays:

August 13, 2010 at 5:03 pm

i think that jennifer meant her comment for other women in her position…older females who do not have all the time in the world to find someone who may or may not be the right person for them to have a child by. in her particular situation for instance, she was married and ended up divorced. i’m sure she didnt think that it was going to end that way and at least can be comforted by the fact that she can still have the family that she dreamed of and not make a wrong decision partner wise again just for the sake of procreating. being a mother is a choice no matter what anyone says. whether you get pregnant and have the choice between continuing said pregnancy or aborting or choosing to be artificially inseminated. i think o’reilly is taking it too far. in no way did she ever imply it is okay to have a child at 12 years old, that is just ridiculous. and being a single parent does not mean that you’re child is doomed. i am single teen mother and i did not drop of out highschool like statistics predicted i would. i’m in my third year of college just like all my friends and am looking at master’s programs for speech pathlogy. i do not believe my daughter has suffered in any way. she is surrounded by love on both sides of her family and never wants for anything. and no i do not live off the government or my family. i have a job as well as go to school full time. and still i find the time to teach my two year old to read. how unfortunate for her that she is being raised in a nontraditional family!! and yes i do believe a male role model is important. my daughter has both grandfathers and the wonderful man that i have been dating for the past year of her life. she has not suffered because her biological father has been less than statisfactory in the parenting department. to say that being raised by a single parent is going to hinder a child is plain ignorance.

Victoriasays:

August 13, 2010 at 5:56 pm

I used to be one of those people who thought that it was always best for children to live in a traditional, two-parent home and I had a negative vibe toward single parents, especially by choice (including choosing to divorce). Then… it happened- I chose to get divorced after 10 years of marriage when my child was an infant (due to several relationship “deal breakers” that occurred after she was born). Two years later I found myself facing severe health issues and likely future infertility. That was it! I did not want my daughter to grow up without a sibling. So… I am pregnant and happily expecting my second child who will be raised by a single mother. I don’t feel that my children will suffer because there isn’t [currently] a father in the home. I actually feel that I am a much better parent than if I had to deal with all of the drama that comes with a less-than-perfect relationship. And by the way- I am college-educated, working at a university, and close to finishing my PhD. I alone earn a higher income than 70% of people living in my state. Most of the research about children raised by single mothers has been done with families living in poverty. Single parent households (both male and female) are more likely to live in poverty; however, many of the comparisons between children in single-parent families and two-parent families don’t account for socioeconomic factors. If you compare children with economic resources to those without, of course it paints an incredibly bleak future for children of single parents! Family stability is a much higher predictor of a child’s success than family structure (according to the BabyCenter article I read a while back).

The commenters here are completely missing the point. Stop with the “It worked for me” attitude and start looking at society as a whole. Single motherhood, as a whole, is BAD!!! Statistics show a child raised in a one parent home is more likely to end up in jail, drop out of school, use drugs and live their own adult lives in poverty.

damisays:

April 13, 2011 at 3:14 pm

laura charlton, Those studies are for single mothers who don’t CHOOSE to have children.Single mothers who are NOT financially sound.Learn the difference.

kim..”Desire has little to do with the ability to give a child the best chance it deserves” really? what about the all the crappy two parent households?

I know A LOT of screwed up kids that have both parents and they AREN’T all that dandy.

Hot Topic

Even though the groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter, Daylight Saving Time is quickly approaching! On Sunday, March 8th at 2:00am, most of us will turn our clocks ahead one hour. Here are some tips that you can implement now to help you and your baby make a smooth transition as we “spring forward.”… Read more »